When negotiating custody, the process can differ greatly depending on what each parent wants to provide, and what he or she can provide. It is becoming increasingly common for parents to opt for shared custody, with more parents opting for a 50-50 split.

However, there are times when, for one reason or another, parents want to file for sole physical custody. This might be because the other parent is not committed to providing a stable home, or it might be because they believe that the other parent could be a threat or cause harm to your child. Whatever the reason, it is important to consider the pros and cons to sole custody before making a decision.

The pros of sole custody

The great thing about sole physical custody is that your child will have a stable structure to rely upon. There will be no changing homes and families every week, and they can establish routines. If appropriate, the other parent can pay scheduled visits, and it does not mean that the child will need to lose the relationship that he or she has with the other parent.

The cons of sole custody

It is always good for children to have an equally strong relationship with each parent, and this is where they might miss out. The limited visitation of the other parent can mean that he or she may only feel like a visitor in the child’s life, and not truly like a parent.

If you are considering filing for sole physical custody of your child, it is important to consider whether you believe that this would be in your child’s best interests.

Source: The Spruce, “Sole Physical Custody,” accessed March 02, 2018